boa

boa — noun

1. a long narrow decorative wrap, usually made of feathers, fur, or very soft fabri

1.nounC2
Definition

a long narrow decorative wrap, usually made of feathers, fur, or very soft fabric, worn loosely round the neck or across the shoulders.

Example

The singer walked onstage in a silver dress and a red boa.

wear + boa for stage costume

At the costume shop, Priya chose a black boa for the school play.

Common collocations
  • feather boa
  • pink boa
  • wear a boa
  • drape a boa over your shoulders
Synonyms
  • stole

    a broader fashion word for a woman's shoulder wrap, often more formal

  • scarf

    the everyday general word; not usually as showy as a boa

  • wrap

    general term for cloth worn around the shoulders or upper body

Usage Note

Chiefly seen in fashion, costume, and theatre contexts, often in the fixed phrase 'feather boa'. Much less common in ordinary clothing talk than 'scarf' or 'wrap'.

Common Mistakes

She wore a wool boa in winter.
She wore a wool scarf in winter.
a 'boa' is usually a decorative wrap, not an ordinary winter scarf.

2. in science, the name for a group of related large snakes living in warm parts of

2.nounC2
Definition

in science, the name for a group of related large snakes living in warm parts of the Americas.

Example

In the museum guide, Boa is listed as a genus from the Americas.

taxonomy: Boa as a genus name

After a new study, the zoo guide no longer placed that island snake in Boa.

Common collocations
  • genus Boa
  • species in Boa
  • belong to Boa
  • Boa constrictor
Synonyms
  • genus Boa

    the exact scientific label, often used in formal taxonomy writing

  • boa genus

    plain English way to describe the same taxonomic group

Usage Note

Usually written with a capital B because it is a genus name. Distinguish from sense 3, where lower-case 'boa' means one animal rather than the scientific group.

Common Mistakes

The animal belongs to boa.
The animal belongs to Boa.
in scientific naming, the genus takes a capital letter.

3. a large snake, especially a boa constrictor, that kills animals by wrapping itse

3.nounC2
Definition

a large snake, especially a boa constrictor, that kills animals by wrapping itself tightly around them.

Example

The zoo keeper lifted a young boa with both hands.

A boa lay across the warm rock under the glass lamp.

Common collocations
  • boa constrictor
  • pet boa
  • young boa
  • boa wrapped around its prey
Synonyms
  • boa constrictor

    more specific, often used for the best-known species

  • constrictor

    broader term for any snake that kills by squeezing

  • snake

    very general word, with no information about size or hunting method

Antonyms
  • viper

    a different kind of snake, usually known for venom rather than constriction

Usage Note

Often appears in the compound 'boa constrictor'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense names the animal itself and is written with a lower-case b in ordinary English.

Common Mistakes

The zoo's boa bit the mouse with venom.
The zoo's boa killed the mouse by squeezing it.
boas are constrictors, not venomous snakes.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

These words all refer to large snakes, but they are not interchangeable. A 'boa' usually means a large non-poisonous snake that kills by squeezing, and in everyday English it often points especially to the boa constrictor. A 'python' belongs to a different snake family and is mainly associated with Africa, Asia, and Australia, so it is the wrong word for a typical American rainforest boa. An 'anaconda' is an even narrower South American type and usually suggests a heavier, more water-loving snake. 'Constrictor' is the broadest term: it names any snake that kills by coiling and squeezing, including boas and pythons. A zoo sign may name a 'boa', while a science book may compare 'boas and pythons'.

boa ↗python ↗anacondaconstrictor

Etymology

LatinEnglish

English took 'boa' from Latin in the late Middle Ages. In Latin, 'boa' named a kind of water snake, though the earlier origin is unknown. The modern snake sense continues that older meaning. The clothing sense appeared later for a long decorative scarf and was probably named by comparison with the way it lies round the neck or shoulders like a snake.